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tallmantall · 2 years ago

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#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – ‘All We Want Is Him Back.’ Pioneers Of #College Football’s #MentalHealth Movement, Mark & Kym #Hilinski Continue To Share Son’s Story

By Theo Lawson [email protected](509) 939-5928 Four days after Tyler #Hilinski died by #suicide, former #WashingtonState wide receiver CJ Dimry approached the quarterback’s father, Mark, at a funeral service in Southern California. Dimry, Hilinski’s former teammate and roommate, began by telling Mark he didn’t own a car during his time in #Pullman. Somewhat puzzled by the remark, Mark Hilinski responded, “Yes, CJ, I know.” The story would come full-circle eventually, but over the next few minutes Dimry explained that his mother died from cancer when he was 5 years old – something the Hilinskis already knew. The part they weren’t aware of: For nearly 15 years, Dimry had sought out counseling to help him cope with the loss. Dimry’s visits ranged from weekly to monthly to annually, but he had regular counseling during his three-year stay in #Pullman. Almost without exception, #Hilinski was the one who’d drive his friend to the appointments. #Hilinski would normally pass the time by finding dinner and waiting in his car. When Dimry finished, it wasn’t unusual for the #WSU teammates to recap the counseling session on the way home. More than four years removed from their son’s #suicide , it’s one of the painful questions that still lingers for Mark and Kym #Hilinski, who understand they may never get the answers they’re seeking. “He’s 20 feet from a door,” Mark said. “Why didn’t he ask for help?” With Dimry’s blessing, it’s a story the Hilinskis have shared hundreds of times speaking to #football players and #studentathletes around the country while representing their #nonprofitfoundation, #Hilinski’sHope. The foundation was launched not long after Tyler’s death with a mission of educating and advocating for #mentalhealth and wellness, while working to eliminate the #stigma associated with #mentalillness. Mark and Kym have made this their life’s work. From their standpoint, they had no choice. For more than three years, they have delivered “Tyler Talks” to various groups. They traveled to the Inland Northwest for a visit with Whitworth’s #football and women’s volleyball players Wednesday afternoon. Roughly 80 miles from where their son played #college #football at #WashingtonState, the Hilinskis still express an affinity for the region, even if it does bring some complicated emotions. “I feel like we’re home,” Mark told a crowd of roughly 200 at Whitworth’s Weyerhaeuser Hall. “We loved it here.” Mark and Kym were in Reno, Nevada, on Tuesday speaking with Nevada’s football team – now coached by Ken Wilson, the former #WSU assistant once responsible for recruiting Tyler to #Pullman. They flew from Reno to Spokane the same evening, met with Whitworth #athletes from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday and caught a 5 p.m. flight ahead of Thursday’s “Tyler Talk” with a group of #highschoolathletes in Portland. The Hilinskis plan to visit 17 states over the coming months, including a trip to Hawaii. Later this month, they’ll wedge in a flight to Ireland to watch their youngest son, Ryan, a junior quarterback at Northwestern, play against Nebraska in the “Aer Lingus #College #Football Classic.” Ryan, Northwestern’s presumptive starter this season, is still wearing his brother’s No. 3. “We jump on planes, we sleep a bit and we do it all over again,” Kym Hilinski said. “… I think there’s a need and I think these coaches and these universities are realizing it. Maybe it’s Tyler’s story, too. We always say, if it can happen to Tyler …” The Hilinskis uprooted their lives to spread Tyler’s story, raise funds for #mentalhealthawareness and bring light to issues that are often untouched, particularly when it comes to #male #collegeathletes. The family sold its Southern California home and two vehicles, and Mark stepped away from his job in retail technology so he and Kym could focus on #Hilinski’sHope. “Retail technology is a lucrative business, telling this sad story is not,” Mark said. “It’s not meant to be, that’s not the purpose. So I did start a new company this year to help on that side. But to the bigger point, we weren’t planning for this growth and we’re sort of caught flat-footed with the amount of requests.” Whitworth coach Rod Sandberg was connected to the Hilinskis through Ian Furness, a KJR Radio host, FOX 13 sports anchor and #WSU alum whose son, Kiefer, plays on the Pirates’ offensive line. In 2019, Furness hosted a golf tournament in Maple Valley, Washington, that raised money for #Hilinski’sHope. “I said, ‘I don’t have any money,’ ” Sandberg said. “They do this to raise money to make a difference. I said, ‘You choose the date, I’ll make the time.’ “I can talk about it all I want. They experienced it. The courage they have to stand up there and share is unbelievable. You can just tell, they had all our players’ attention and able to say go get help in a way I can’t do.” #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Although many are still reluctant to engage in #mentalhealth conversations, the Hilinskis receive constant affirmation that they’re making an impact on young lives. “Someone comes up and whispers in my ear, ‘You just saved my life,’ ” Kym said. “That is so humbling and it just floors you and honestly it happens after every ‘Tyler Talk.’ Every talk I would say, ‘You changed my life’ or ‘You saved my life.’ ” Solo Hines, a junior running back at Whitworth, admitted he’s confronted #suicidalthoughts and battled #depression in the past. Wednesday’s “Tyler Talk” hit close to home for the Kent, Washington, native, serving as a reminder that resources are always available to those struggling. “It really felt welcoming, it felt like home to me to hear that,” Hines said. “I didn’t really know this at the time, or at the time I was going through my #depression and #suicidalthoughts, but it’s good to know there’s people that love me for me, that will help me and care about me as well.” Kym Hilinski acknowledged the pressure facing #studentathletes in 2022. As a projected Pac-12 starting quarterback in the midst of the #socialmedia era, Tyler encountered his share of those pressures at #WSU, but Kym believes the transfer portal, as well as new name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities, have added to the strain of being a modern-day #collegeathlete. “So much pressure and #stress that I don’t think they realize how much pressure and stress they’re under,” she said. “Or they do and they’re #athletes and they suck it up,” Mark said. Through in-person and virtual visits with more than 150 universities, the Hilinskis have seen an evolution in the way college athletic leaders – particularly head football coaches – approach #mentalhealthissues. Some of the earliest “Tyler Talks” were athlete-only affairs, but Mark and Kym notice coaches in the audience more often. It’s not uncommon for them to hold exclusive meetings with coaching staffs that are eager to learn what they can do for their players. “We had somebody that needed attention during the middle of a talk, head football coach on the West Coast stopped the thing, they all loved on this #kid, the players got around him,” Mark said. “If you could bottle that, it would snap the #stigma in #college #football.” “If your coach knows and believes you have to take care of your #mentalhealth,” Kym said, “then I think the #studentathletes say, ‘I do, I have to.’ ” Whitworth defensive back and junior captain Colten Chelin agreed conversations surrounding #mentalhealth and #mentalwellness have become more prevalent since he joined the #football team in 2018. “They’re always going to tell you, ‘Oh be tough, you’re fine, put some dirt on it,’ and you can’t do that with #mentalhealth,” he said. “So the #stigma is slowly going away, but this was a great reminder of it.” Even with all the work they’ve done, Mark and Kym Hilinski know their job is nowhere near finished. In 2020, they earned a Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award from ESPN during ESPYs week. They’ve made multiple appearances on NBC’s “Today” show to share Tyler’s story. They recently made an ESPN.com list naming “The 11 biggest power brokers and advocates shaping the future of #college #football.” Others on the list included SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey and Jackson State coach Deion Jackson. Recognizing the website probably considered them “advocates” more so than “power brokers,” Mark still couldn’t resist the joke: “Kym Hilinski and Greg Sankey, the power brokers of #college #football.” Through #Hilinski’sHope, the couple launched “Game Plan,” an six-part online #mentalhealth course that can be purchased for $6. Their “Unit3d” podcast, sponsored by #Hilinski’sHope and hosted by #sports #psychologists and #mentalhealthprofessionals, just completed its 150th episode. This year alone, they’re scheduled to deliver more than 100 “Tyler Talks” – a stark increase from the 18 they gave in the first year. “We don’t have answers. We’re not telling people, ‘Go drink this water and everything will be fine,’ ” Mark said. “It’s just, if you give them enough of a story that hurts, it tends to just resonate a little bit. … There’s no amount of work we can do where it fixes it.” Near the end of an interview Wednesday, Mark Hilinski pulled out his phone to make sure he and his wife were still on track to catch a flight to Portland. With a photo of Tyler in place as his wallpaper, Mark couldn’t help but grin upon noticing the time: 3:33 p.m. Tyler, as noted, wore No. 3. “All we want is him back,” Kym said. “We’d give everything to have Tyler back.” Read the full article

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ghostlyjellyfishpolice · 3 months ago

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carlbensonjr · 3 months ago

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Morning Round-Up for Friday, August 23rd

Morning Round-Up for Friday, August 23rd. This time of the year is that sweet spot for a lot of people in the U.S. It’s Vacation time, kids are already back in school so that’s over, for sports fans it’s the ‘dog days’ of baseball with 1 managerial casualty already (Seattle Mariners). College football starts off tomorrow with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. This is the…

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shahananasrin-blog · 1 year ago

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[ad_1] After seven months of waiting, a college football Saturday has finally arrived. Week Zero provided a taste for college football fans hungry for the return of their favorite teams, but Saturday’s Week 1 slate means the season is officially upon us. Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman looks to pass during the Aer Lingus College Football Classic match between Notre Dame and Navy Midshipmen at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday. (Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)It’s time to close the book on conference realignment — at least for one weekend — while fans finally get a look at new rosters with a clean slate. The Georgia Bulldogs are looking to become the first team to win three consecutive national championships since the Minnesota Golden Gophers pulled off the feat from 1934-1936, and USC quarterback Caleb Williams is hoping to become just the second back-to-back Heisman Trophy winner in college football history. DISNEY-CHARTER DISPUTE LEADS TO BLACKOUT AT FLORIDA-UTAH KICKOFF, ESPN VIEWERS LOSE THEIR MINDSThere are quarterback questions all over the country as Alabama and Ohio State attempt to replace Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, respectively. The College Football Playoff National Championship trophy is displayed on the field before the title game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the TCU Horned Frogs at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 9, 2023. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)But all of that will be decided as the next 14 weeks play out on the way to the national championship game in Houston on Jan. 8, 2024.College football has returned, and with it comes three days of action. Let’s take a look at a few games to be aware of during Week 1 of the college football season. No. 17 TCU vs. Colorado – Noon ET "Coach Prime" finally makes his FBS debut. There has never been a team with so much hype after going 1-11 the season prior and having just one season with double-digit wins over a 21-year period. Enter Deion Sanders. Sanders has infused life into a dormant program, putting Colorado on the map before even taking the field. Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes watches as his team warms up prior to their spring game at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado, on April 22, 2023. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Now, college football fans get to see the actual product. And what the product will be is very much a question. ACC VOTES TO ADD 3 SCHOOLS AS CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT CONTINUESSanders has completely flipped the roster at Colorado, with the Buffaloes returning just 10 scholarship players from 2022 with 68 new scholarship players on the roster, according to The Athletic. "They came here because they wanted [the spotlight]. They came here because they wanted the light. They wanted the smoke. They wanted the attention. They wanted the focus. They wanted the love," Sanders said of his players.Shedeur Sanders, Deion’s son, will be under center after throwing for 70 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions in two seasons at Jackson State. Travis Hunter, the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class, also followed "Coach Prime" to Colorado and is expected to play both ways. For TCU, coming off a national championship game appearance, there are some new faces. The Horned Frogs lost offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, Heisman finalist quarterback Max Duggan, running back Kendre Miller and wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Head coach Sonny Dykes of the TCU Horned Frogs looks on from the sideline during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 9, 2023. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)LONGHORNS’ STEVE SARKISIAN RESPONDS TO BIG 12 COMMISSIONER'S MESSAGE FOR TEXAS TECH"We have a lot to prove. And I think we want to prove to people that last year wasn’t a fluke," head coach Sonny Dykes said. "So I think there is a little bit of maybe more of a chip on our shoulder this year than there was last year because of that."During the 2022 season, TCU went 6-1 in one-score games.No. 10 Washington vs. Boise State – 3:30 p.m. ET Expectations are sky-high for the Washington Huskies as they prepare for their final season in the Pac-12. Washington has its highest preseason ranking since 2018 and returns quarterback Michael Penix Jr. after the Huskies had the second-best offense in the country last season in terms of yards per game (515.8). Kalen DeBoer is entering his second season as head coach after leading Washington to their most wins (11) since the 2016 season. "[We’re] more comfortable with the consistency and the effort that I know we’ll bring," DeBoer said. "It doesn’t mean that everything is always perfect. We know that. That’s going to come even with Week 1 here. We’ll certainly get challenged. But I do feel confident and that we’re going to have a response where, when it comes to gut-check time, these guys are going to dig in." Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on during the Valero Alamo Bowl game against the Texas Longhorns at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Dec. 29, 2022. (Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMOn the other side, Boise State is no slouch, entering the 2023 season as the favorite to win the Mountain West. "Having the opportunity to go on the road in the opening week and play the No. 10 team in the nation, you don’t always get that," Boise State coach Andy Avalos said. "It calls for a great deal of preparation obviously, and focus and discipline."Running back George Holani returns for his senior season after rushing for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. The Broncos averaged 196.4 yards on the ground last season, 29th in the country. South Carolina vs. No. 21 North Carolina – 7:30 p.m. ET The Gamecocks are on the upswing and North Carolina has a Heisman-hopeful under center, setting up a good matchup in Charlotte. South Carolina went 8-5 in Shane Beamer’s second season in Columbia, beating No. 5 Tennessee and snapping a seven-game losing streak to Clemson. Spencer Rattler of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates a touchdown during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, on Nov. 26, 2022. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)Quarterback Spencer Rattler returns for his senior season — his second with the Gamecocks — after throwing for 3,026 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2022. South Carolina also received a big boost with the return of wide receiver Antwane "Juice" Wells, who was fifth in the SEC in receiving yards. GIANTS LEGEND JUSTIN TUCK BELIEVES PAC-12 DECIMATION ONLY BEGINNING OF PATH TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL ‘SUPER LEAGUE'"Spencer’s play on the field will speak for itself," Beamer said. "Frankly, it’s pretty disappointing just to see maybe the lack of respect on the outside. But again, we worry about what we can control, and I’m excited for Spencer."The Gamecocks struggled mightily against the run in 2022, allowing 192.4 yards per game on the ground, second-worst in the SEC. For the Tar Heels, it’s all about quarterback Drake Maye, the reigning ACC Player of the Year. North Carolina ranked second in the ACC in yards per game (462.8) and third in scoring (34.4). North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye runs the ball during the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl game against the Oregon Ducks at Petco Park in San Diego on Dec. 28, 2022. (Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)The Tar Heels have a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey, who takes over after Phil Longo took the job in Wisconsin. North Carolina went 9-5 in 2022 and played Clemson in the ACC Championship game, but ended the year on a four-game losing streak. "It’s not a card I’m playing, it’s facts," coach Mack Brown said ahead of the game. "We won nine games and got less respect than a lot of people that won less than that because of the way we finished. … You’ve got to win games in this business. It’s a bottom-line business. If you don’t win, you don’t get credit, and you don’t deserve credit. So that’s just the way it is."No. 8 Florida State vs. No. 5 LSU – Sunday 7:30 p.m. ET It’s the only top-25 matchup of the weekend and the first top-10 matchup between the two schools. Both Florida State and LSU are coming off of surprisingly good seasons, with the Tigers winning 10 games in Brian Kelly’s first year as head coach, and the Seminoles winning 10 games in Mike Norvell’s third year, the first 10-win season since 2016. Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis throws a pass during the Florida State Garnet & Gold Spring Showcase at Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, on April 15, 2023. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Last year, Florida State won a highly entertaining game in Week 1, taking down LSU 24-23. ARIZONA STATE ANNOUNCES SELF-IMPOSED BOWL BAN FOR 2023 SEASON AMID NCAA PROBEThe Seminoles went 10-3 last season, winning their last six games. Florida State’s offense returns nine starters from the 2022 squad that was 16th in points per game (36.1). LSU earned a trip to the SEC Championship Game last season and returns eight starters from the offense, including quarterback Jayden Daniels. In his first season at LSU, Daniels threw for 2,913 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 885 yards and 11 scores on the ground. LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly looks on after winning the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Purdue at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 2, 2023. (Joe Petro/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)On the "Brian Kelly Show" on Thursday, the LSU coach was very confident before the opening game of the season. "I think we’re in a really good position in year two," Kelly said. "Look, I will say that there are still some areas that need to be improved. We’re going to take 15 freshmen on this trip and 14 transfers. Nearly 40% of this travel roster are going to go overnight for the first time with LSU. "And that’s not a disclaimer of any kind. We’re going to go beat the heck out of Florida State"Duke vs. No. 9 Clemson – Monday 8 p.m. ET Clemson is coming off a "disappointing" season despite going 11-3 and winning another ACC title in 2022. The quarterback position was an issue for the entire season as DJ Uiagalelei struggled — Clemson was 66th in passing offense — eventually transferring to Oregon State in the offseason. Freshman Cade Klubnik, a five-star recruit, appeared in 10 games and was tabbed the starter moving forward after the ACC Championship Game. Dabo Swinney fired offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter, the first time he’s fired an assistant coach since 2011, and hired Garrett Riley to right the ship. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney watches the players on the field before the Capital One Orange Bowl game against the Tennessee Volunteers at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Dec. 30, 2022. (Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPRiley, the younger brother of USC head coach Lincoln Riley, led the ninth-best scoring offense during the 2022 college football season and was named the Broyles Award winner, given to the top assistant in college football. Clemson returns seven starters on offense, including running back Will Shipley, Jr., who ran for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2022. Duke went 9-4 in Mike Elko’s first season as head coach and returns dual-threat quarterback Riley Leonard, who helped the Blue Devils to the fifth-best scoring offense in the ACC in 2022 (32.8). The Associated Press contributed to this report Joe Morgan is a Sports Reporter for Fox News. [ad_2]

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polkadotmotmot · 4 years ago

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I’m ecstatic that this got confirmed! https://www.illini2ireland.com/game/

I will be there! My third adventure to Ireland. Always a great time in my experience. Reticent that this will actually happen, but if it does I’ve already got the tickets. See you there August 28. Beat Nebraska!

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tumsozluk · 2 years ago

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Scott Frost announces a notable change: the world of college football reacts

Dublin, Ireland – Aug 27, 2022; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Scott Frost before the 2022 Aer Lingus College Football Classic game between the North West Wildcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers at Aviva Stadium, Dublin. (Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Ben McShane/Getty Images Scott Frost has announced a notable change for the Huskers going forward. After the Week 1 win over North…

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don-lichterman · 2 years ago

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Northwestern upset Nebraska as college football kicks off in Dublin – in pictures | Sport

Nebraska assistant Ron Brown leads a post-game prayer after the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Saturday in Dublin. Photograph: Oisin Keniry/Getty Images Facebook Twitter Source link

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rickhorrow · 5 years ago

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15+5+5 To Watch : 93019

15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 30

with Jacob Aere

With the NBA preseason tipping off this week, marketers zero in on the latest crop of talent to be brought to the league this season, especially top draft pick Zion Williamson. As such, Williamson’s partners are revving up their own marketing plans for the former Duke player, including Panini America, the world's largest licensed sports and entertainment collectibles company, which inked Williamson to an exclusive trading card agreement last month to feature Williamson's only licensed college and NBA trading cards and autograph cards. His first officially licensed NBA autographs will release in October, with the arrival of the 2019-20 NBA Hoops Basketball product, as well as Panini's 25 additional NBA trading card products released during the season. Cynopsis Sports spoke with Jason Howarth, Vice President of Marketing for Panini America, about his NBA season outlook. “The global marketplace is really excited about this NBA Rookie Class including players like Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, Rue Hachimura [first Japanese NBA Player], and Zion leads the way,” Howarth said. “Zion is a generational athlete – in the truest sense.” Gatorade obviously agrees – last Thursday, they announced that they had signed Williamson to a reported seven-figure, multi-year endorsement deal.

While the Dallas Mavericks won’t travel overseas this NBA preseason, they have partnered with the Carbonfund.org Foundation as part of a pledge to offset their corporate travel carbon emissions. The move will see the franchise support the foundation’s Envira Amazonia Project, which works to protect nearly 500,000 acres of endangered Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Commenting on the arrangement, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said: “Offsetting our corporate travel with Carbonfund.org Foundation is one way we are creating a more sustainable business and educating our fans, staff and community about simple measures we can all take to protect our shared environment." The Envira Amazonia Project is part of a global campaign to provide support for ecosystem services helping to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation. The Mavericks are the latest sports property to lend their support to climate change prevention. Most recently, German soccer club Hoffenheim announced plans to become carbon neutral, including support for away team travel to the club’s home matches.

The puck doesn’t drop on the new NHL season until Wednesday, but Sidney Crosby has already racked up accolades. The Penguins star has already earned ESPN’s all-decade Hart Trophy and had the top-selling NHL Shop jersey from last year, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Last Thursday, Crosby picked up another retail-related honor: he led all NHL players in merchandise sales on eBay from August 2018 to August 2019, according to the annual NHL preview released by eBay in partnership with StubHub. Crosby gear outsold those of other stars such as Chicago Blackhawks wing Patrick Kane, Washington Capitals wing Alexander Ovechkin, and ex-Penguin and Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. The report actually went out of its way to say that Crosby merchandise is 76% more popular on eBay than Ovechkin’s. Pittsburgh is also No. 3 on eBay’s list of top merchandise sales by team. The Boston Bruins and Blackhawks are No. 1 and 2 respectively, while the Capitals came in fifth and the Philadelphia Flyers at ninth. (Sorry, Gritty.)

EverFi “Runs the Right Plays.” Premiering earlier this year, The Sport Business Handbook recognizes the last 50 years as the formative period for the modern era of sport. Likewise, online education leader EverFi is celebrating over a decade of harnessing technology to equip communities with the skills they need for success. To celebrate the good work in our communities contributors continue to do, EverFi presents "Running the Right Plays: Doing Good Through Sport" on October 2 in Washington, DC. This symposium will present a rare opportunity to hear directly from key contributors in sport, business, and philanthropy and gain exclusive access to their personal insights. Panelists joining Rick Horrow for the evening include Lisa Bowman, Chief Marketing Officer, United Way Worldwide; Jon Chapman, Co-Founder & President, EverFi; Phil de Picciotto, Founder & President, Octagon; Damon Phillips, General Manager, NBC Sports Washington; Nick Sakiewicz, National Lacrosse League Commissioner; and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. We will also present the top five Washington, DC community impact milestones in and around sports.

The San Francisco 49ers filed a lawsuit to "block Santa Clara's attempt to end the team's management of non-football events at Levi's Stadium," according to the San Jose Mercury News. The lawsuit filed on Friday "comes in the wake of the City Council's vote to terminate the 49ers' management agreement, effective November 15." City officials "contend the team misrepresented its experience in managing 'public assembly facilities' and has violated city and state rules governing public contracts and prevailing wages." Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor in a tweet Friday night "doubled down on those claims." She tweeted, "We terminated the 49ers non-NFL events agreement because we discovered fraud and wage theft. They mismanaged a public facility. Net profits plunge from around $5 million to $0 in two years." If the city succeeds, the 49ers would "no longer book and manage stadium events unrelated" to NFL games and activities. Santa Clara "owns Levi's Stadium and leases the facility to the 49ers." The team is "responsible for managing it year-round and generating revenue to be shared with the city through concerts and other non-NFL events." The 49ers' lawsuit requests that a judge invalidate the city's termination notice.

Watch what happens now. Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. wearing a Richard Mille watch during the Brown’s season opener against the Titans was "emblematic of the big-money sports culture" of 2019, in which "eight-figure athletes increasingly flash six-figure watches as a branding opportunity for player and watchmaker alike," according to the New York Times. Watch site Hodinkee Managing Editor Stephen Pulvirent said, "A pop-cultural arms race has definitely emerged over the last decade or so when it comes to high-end watchmaking and top athletes. For most people, seeing a watch on the wrist of someone they respect and admire is a pretty powerful entry point to the world of high-end watches." Fine watches "send a signal to fans that today's multimillionaire athletes are not sweat-drenched gladiators, but men and women of taste and refinement.” The high-end watch flash, long prevalent in golf and tennis, has now ticked into team sports. And it’s worth noting OBJ lost a diamond earring during a Sunday in-game scuffle with Ravens’ cornerback Marlon Humphrey – not a timepiece.

Tennis Channel is going bi-coastal, opening a fully equipped broadcast control room on the site of the USTA National Campus in Orlando. The new facility is designed to give the network a year-round presence at the training center for elite American professional and junior players. The facility, which establishes an East Coast production base for the West Coast-based network, provides Tennis Channel with greater access to National Campus competitions and players, in addition to Florida's tennis community. It was put to immediate use September 24-29, as the network carried the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals for the first time. Tennis Channel has clearly benefitted operationally and financially from its $350 million acquisition by Sinclair Broadcast Group three years ago – a fact that’s not lost on Sinclair’s newly-purchased roster of Fox Regional Sports Networks and their executives.

Kroenke, Spanos reportedly at odds over Sofi Stadium PSL sales. According to a report from ABC 10 News San Diego, Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is upset about a lack of financial contribution by the L.A. Chargers for their shared Inglewood stadium, which is set to open next summer. Kroenke was anticipating the Chargers would generate close to $400 million from the sale of Personal Seat Licenses. Instead, the real figure is turning out to be tens of millions short of the target, and Kroenke is the one responsible for making up the difference. Costs for the Inglewood stadium are skyrocketing to almost $5 billion. The facility was initially expected to cost $1.9 billion. Kroenke is responsible for everything but the money the Chargers generate in PSL sales and a $200 million NFL G-6 loan. The Chargers, though, get to keep all of their game day revenues when they play in the new building. Kroenke has very little way of recouping the money from Spanos, because it was all part of the deal allowing the Chargers to move from San Diego to L.A.

Notre Dame and Navy will face off next season at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Upwards of 35,000 U.S. fans are "expected to descend" in late August for Notre Dame-Navy, and a sellout "appears odds on," but for future games, event organizers "must convince other U.S. colleges, with less obvious Irish links, that it is a good idea to shift one of their annual games to Dublin," according to the Irish Times. The series will cost up to $5 million in "fees and charges" just to get each game moved to Dublin in subsequent years. Sponsors will "cover much of the initial cost." Aer Lingus College Football Classic Steering Committee Chair Neil Naughton said, "We're hoping Notre Dame fans will get to experience Ireland, to love it. And if they're in business and they want to open a European office, Dublin will be their natural choice." Ireland-based airline Aer Lingus is title sponsor, and Failte Ireland -- the National Tourism Development Authority -- as well as Tourism Ireland and the Dublin City Council are all "on board as official supporters." Teams for the 2021 game will be announced in October.

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports agency has announced the launch of its new global division to be headquartered in London, with Michael Yormark, who will serve as president of the new venture, heading up branding and strategy. Over the past couple years, Roc Nation has drastically expanded their roster in Europe and become more involved with sports. Roc Nation Sports International’s clients currently include six soccer players: Jerome Boateng, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Eric Bailly, Axel Witsel, and Samuel Chukwueze. The company will officially open its London office on October 1 with a major focus on soccer. Based on the expertise of Roc Nation, on the artist and athlete side of the business, the agency believes this is a natural next step to have feet on the ground in the U.K. and develop their company in a 360 degree fashion. The new international venture will bring lifestyle, music and sport to the epicenter of the world’s soccer market.

Pepsi, the NFL, and Roc Nation announced that Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show. "Ever since I saw Diana Ross fly off into the sky at the Halftime Show, I dreamed of performing at the Super Bowl," said Lopez. "And now it's made even more special not only because it's the NFL's 100th anniversary, but also because I am performing with a fellow Latina. The Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show telecast on FOX taking place at the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium on February 2, 2020 will be produced by NFL Network. Roc Nation will serve as producers and strategic entertainment advisors of the live performance. According to Variety, although Lopez is originally from the Bronx and Shakira from Colombia, Miami is "widely recognized as the global capital of the Latin music business." The booking also "bears the fingerprints of Jay-Z," as it comes on the heels of the NFL-Roc Nation partnership announced last month that "encompasses entertainment -- including the Super Bowl halftime show."

The NFL has signed DraftKings to an exclusive deal making it the league's first official daily fantasy sports sponsor. Similar to the deal they signed with Caesars in January as the NFL's inaugural casino partner, DraftKings is specifically prohibited from marketing its sports betting business with the NFL. However, the relationship can indirectly serve DraftKings' emerging sports book by keeping its brand front-of-center among football fans as legalized betting spreads. The NFL expects to use the relationship to help it better understand how daily fantasy increases fan engagement. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said access to official league marks and footage will help the company stand out against competitors. DraftKings already is an official sponsor of the Patriots, Broncos, and Cowboys. "The NFL is very careful about allowing people to use trademarks like Super Bowl, and we run contests where people can do things like win tickets to the Super Bowl…Now we can actually say 'Super Bowl,'" Robins said. The NFL is still the only North American league not to designate a full-fledged sports betting partner, so it looks like they’re still hedging their bets while waiting for the perfect mega sports gambling deal.

Nike tops analysts’ expectations with first quarter numbers. Nike stock "exceeded an all-time high of more than $90 a share in after-hours trading" last Thursday after the company released its Q1 earnings report, according to the Portland Oregonian. Nike's first quarter came in "above Wall Street expectations," with $10.66 billion in sales compared to the predicted $10.44 billion. Sales were up 10%, "not including currency changes." Nike said earnings per share were $0.86, above the $0.70 expected. Nike Chairman, President, and CEO Mark Parker in a release described the first quarter as a "strong start" to the company’s 2020 fiscal year. The company expects fiscal year sales to "climb in the high single-digits." Nike has now "exceeded Wall Street sales expectations in 14 of the last 20 quarters and beat earnings expectations in 19 of the last 20.” Nike’s brand new relationship with NBA rookie sensation Zion Williamson should continue to boost its strong numbers.

NFL owners float proposal for 17-game season. As NFL CBA talks continue, the "most dramatic proposal on the table from owners is an expanded regular season to 17 games that could eliminate preseason games in their entirety," according to ESPN and other sources. The NFLPA is "not interested in an expanded season, especially without a significant increase in its percentage of the revenue." Sources on both sides "believe that important progress has been made and a deal is getting closer." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones are reportedly "leading the way to push through a new CBA at some time this season." With higher numbers of NFL players retiring at the peak of their careers, they are clearly just as worried about the wear and tear on their bodies as they are the revenue feathering their bank accounts. If owners agree to increase revenue share by even a modest percentage, most players will probably jump at this compromise.

Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Field House officially open after $185 million renovation. Downtown Cleveland was "electric" Saturday afternoon for a "celebration and official opening" of the $185 million renovated Rocket Mortgage Field House, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. An "estimated 2,500 people attended the ceremony" that was followed by a "free public open house." People had the "chance to explore the space and try new dining options." Updates include a "77,110 square foot illuminated aluminum curtain, more than 42,000 square feet of new space in the atrium, a power portal entryway featuring LED panels and Soundscape technology." Cavaliers President of Business Operations Nic Barlage said, "Today was perfect.” The first event in the renovated arena "won’t be a sporting event but a concert, when the Black Keys perform" on Monday night. A fitting opening for a building mere blocks from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Top Five Tech

Amazon launches a stat boosted “Thursday Night Football” broadcast. According to FOX Business, Amazon Prime Video is adding more customizable features to its streaming broadcasts to build on a viewership spike on its platform from last season. The third year of Amazon’s NFL streaming deal kicked off this past Thursday night, with fans able to use Prime Video’s “X-Ray” feature to access “Next Gen Stats,” such as a running back’s yards-after-contact. The company also will debut “NFL Next,” a 30-minute pre-game show exclusive to streaming viewers with show hosts including former NFL star Chris Long, NFL Network personality Kay Adams, and Next Gen Stats expert James Koh. Amazon is pushing the sports streaming market and plans to roll out more statistics as the season progresses. Amazon has seen a steady increase in viewership since it took over “Thursday Night Football,” with its average streaming viewership rising 86% on Amazon’s “Thursday Night Football” broadcasts in 2018 compared to the previous season.

Levi’s Stadium is the first NFL stadium to employ 8K video. According to SportsPro, the San Francisco 49ers said the upgrade will come into play in the near future, however an exact timeline has yet to be set. The 8K HD video production technology comes as part of a multi-year partnership with communications manufacturer Foxconn Industrial Internet. A key component of that will be to replace all existing television monitors within Levi’s Stadium with Sharp-brand monitors. The partnership also presents an opportunity for Fii to enhance the match day experience through high-performance computing and 5G connectivity. Following updates completed during the off-season, the Fii name will also serve as the presenting sponsor for the 49ers Museum, the 49ers press room, and the Fii Club which was previously known as the East Field Club. The collaboration between the NFL team and communications company supports the new narrative of sports teams looking for a technological edge to improve marketing and fan experience.

The NHL looks to boost players’ social media presence through a deal with Opendorse. According to NHL.com, the NHL and participating clubs will use Opendorse to help players publish their highlights, in-game images, and other media to their personal social channels with the tap of a button. Rather than simply handing players a library of assets to wade through, the NHL and its clubs can now send individual players specific photos, videos, or GIFs, streamlining the process to effectively engage their social media audiences. Almost all of the work is done by Opendorse, all the athletes have to do is add or edit their own messaging, then approve the post to publish with a single tap. Opendorse then automatically publishes the post to the appropriate channel at the scheduled date and time. As NHL players already significantly outpace fellow professional athletes in terms of engagement rate in 2019, this added addition of Opendorse will boost the NHL’s social media game to a higher frequency to build a larger brand for hockey overall.

The Sacramento Kings are getting rid of the lineups for food and drink. According to Business Insider, an Amazon Go-style store where fans can grab a beer and food in under 30 seconds will open in October at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, home to the NBA's Sacramento Kings. It's powered by Zippin, which recently opened its first checkout-free store in San Francisco. To use the store without checking out, shoppers must download the Sacramento Kings + Golden 1 Center app or the Zippin app and cameras and sensors will track what shoppers grab off the store's shelves. Customers can also shop at the store if they present a valid debit or credit card at the entrance. While teams like the Yankees are bringing food right to your seats, this option still lets fans explore the stadium while getting rid of the hassle of standing in line and increasing fan satisfaction.

ESPN and Facebook strike a deal to bring sports shows to the social media platform. Under the new deal, ESPN will distribute exclusive digital shows and content on the social giant’s Facebook Watch video platform. According to Variety, the new collaboration will begin with ESPN’s Facebook Watch lineup of additional segments from “Always Late With Katie Nolan,” the late-night sports/comedy show premiering this week on ESPN2; exclusive versions of college-football “Countdown to GameDay” and “Fantasy Focus Live,” and “The People’s MMA Show,” a weekly series about mixed martial arts fighters. With the new content, ESPN will engage with fans through Facebook Watch platform via Watch Parties, polls, or live talent Q&As. Facebook has made a huge push in the last two years to gather more sports content including live MLB games and now all-encompassing sports content from one of sports media’s titans as the push to break into OTT sports intensifies.

Power of Sports Five

Burton Snowboards joined millions of students and workers from around the world in support of the Global Climate Strike. On September 20 and 27, the snowboard brand closed all its offices and retail stores in America, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia so its employees could join the strike and attend local marches, while still being paid. Burton.com was also closed for online orders around the world on the same days. According to The Telegraph, visitors to the website were automatically redirected to the Global Climate Strike homepage instead. In addition, the brand’s flagship stores, which are largely based in the U.S., were open to the public as a space to gather before and after the marches. People in 150 countries organized Global Climate Strikes in September, in which people were encouraged to walk out of work or school to join a local march to draw attention to the need for a new approach to combat climate change.

A pair of new-found friends cycle from London to Tokyo for charity and the Rugby World Cup. James Owens and Ron Rutland cycled from London to Tokyo, a total of 20,093 kilometers and a distance that spanned across 27 countries over 230 days to reach rugby's showpiece event. The primary aim of the journey was to raise money and awareness for ChildFund Pass It Back, the Rugby World Cup's official charity. According to CNN, the aim of the project was to help children from developing communities in Asia learn essential life skills through the sport. Seeing the actual children who were benefiting from the project’s $83,181 raised was the highlight of the journey for Owens and Rutland, who had only met five days before their journey and were also tasked with delivering the official whistle for the opening match between Japan and Russia. Rutland had previously cycled 41,843 km over two years and three months in the world's first unsupported solo cycle through Africa to watch his beloved South Africa in 2015 in England. This time, he used his extreme conditioning to better the lives of others.

A college football fan asks for beer money and ends up raising $1 million for charity. According to People Magazine, Carson King went viral last week with a homemade sign asking viewers of ESPN’s “College GameDay” to donate to his Venmo account so he could afford to stock up on beer. The sign read “Busch Light Supply Needs Replenished,” which was seen on TV during the match-up between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones. King, 24, told CNN he didn’t expect to make any money off of the “joke” sign, but somehow netted $400 within 30 minutes. After he made more than $1,000 in a day, he decided to donate almost all of the money (as he did keep just enough for a case of Busch Light) to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. Within days, Busch Beer was on board too, and so was Venmo, with each company promising to match King’s donation. Now, with Busch and Venmo on board, the donations crossed the $1.1 million mark. The randomness of a viral sports sensation helped to make a huge impact for sick children in need.

After a sensational UFC match, Khabib Nurmugumadov and Dustin Poirier keep up the charity work. Last week, Khabib gave his swapped jersey with Poirier away so that it could be auctioned off for charity and it ended up raising $100,000 which was put towards helping Poirier’s “The Good Fight” charity with the funds to be used to build water wells and repair water supplies at an orphanage and school in Uganda. Additionally, UFC president Dana White revealed that he would match whatever the shirt sold for, so $200,000 was raised. According to MMA Mania, Poirier’s auction on EBay for his fight gloves, shorts, wraps, and Khabib’s shirt sold for $60,200 to bring the total money raised to over a quarter million to help provide clean water to those who lack access.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation donates three mini soccer pitches to Baltimore. The D.C.-based soccer philanthropy and advocacy organization plans to fund and build three $60,000 “mini-pitches” at Desoto Park in Southwest Baltimore’s Morrell Park neighborhood, the Farring-Baybrook Recreation Center in Brooklyn, and Betty Hyatt Community Park in Washington Hill. According to Baltimore FishBowl, the donations would come as part of the nonprofit’s “Safe Places to Play” program. The foundation has partnered with sports-lighting firm Musco Lighting on a modular soccer field design, roughly the size of a basketball or tennis court, for underserved areas around the country and they come with lighting to allow for after-hours play, plus storage and benches. And the effects from these “city pitches” won’t be short lived – the foundation is partnering with MLS teams, corporations, and others to install 1,000 around the country by 2026.

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